Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Anonymous |
| 05/25/01 at 01:16:06 |
| Salam I know a lot of educated sisters but I don't know a lot of working sisters in good jobs. Many tend to stay in education for a very long time and totally avoid the world of work! Some move on and become researchers or professors in universites BUT I cant stay on at university another year or I'll totally crack up!!! I've decided to be a brave woman and enter the world of work. BUT going to interviews for jobs is becoming soooo scarey. I am not seeing any other sisters with scarfs in offices and I feel so intimidated. In a way I am wondering whether my scarf will become a predjudice for potential 'western' employees coz I have had some real dirty looks from some of these uppity interviwers. Its totally putting me off!! Anyway my question is do any of you sisters know any other sisters in jobs in the city other than 'halal butchers','teachers in muslim schools' or 'doctors'. I want a job and I want to know there are sisters out there who made it! Otherwise I will be forced to do a PhD and my brain is going to explode if I have to read another book! Thanks Aida |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Kathy |
| 05/25/01 at 08:27:45 |
| slm I was a nursing staff manager in hijab. After the initial shock they all get over it. I think because I was good at my job- it wasn't a problem. I stopped working to raise my child but continue to be very active on various Governing Boards, Classroom volunteer, and a Breast Feeding Counseler. All of these positions are with non Muslims. Currently I am trying to break into TV Commercial making- I'll keep ya posted. |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| amal |
| 05/25/01 at 09:22:58 |
| Assalamu alaykum, Sister don't be discouraged. Put your faith in Allah (swt) and everything will be fine insha'Allah. I work as a software test engineer and this is my first job since i got my bachalors degree a year ago. I was a bit apprehensive at first cause i feared they won't hire me because of the hijab and also because i'm new to this country (only been here 11 months now). But by the Grace of Allah none of these mattered. They hired me in the same day that i had the interview. I wasn't really expecting it specially from all i heard about southern folks. Anyways, my advice to you is just prepare yourself for the interview as best as you can and then Tawakkal ala Allah. And the most important thing of all: DON'T show them that you're nervous. Act confident but eager to learn. salaam Amal |
| i dunno if this helps..BUT.. |
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| princess |
| 05/25/01 at 10:28:00 |
| walikumas'salaam warahamtullah :) someone i know didn't wear hijab @ their previous job, but when she started interviewing with other companies, she wore hijab @ all the interviews..she didn't sense there to be any problems :) she's a cpa :) [i]if[/i] u make it a big deal, then it's a big deal :) ppl always stare regardless..i dunno what their issues r :) my suggestion is: "learn to ignore them" u've got more then enough on ur mind with the interviewing, u don't need extra tension :) inshAllah, that helped :) happy jum'mah :) later langur ;-D |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| se7en |
| 05/25/01 at 14:56:33 |
as salaamu alaykum, [quote]Anyway my question is do any of you sisters know any other sisters in jobs in the city other than 'halal butchers','teachers in muslim schools' or 'doctors'. [/quote] One sister in this community graduated valedictorian of her law school and now has an excellent job with the state. She's actually our imam's wife :) Another sister in this area is a chemist. Another sister I know is an editor for a major women's magazine. Another I know works for GE. My mom owns an Islamic shop with books and hijab's and such. My sister works at a software company. :-) |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| chachi |
| 05/25/01 at 17:03:42 |
I think maybe it's less of an issue in the UK than it is in the usa or france USA because their not used to it and France because the Ferengi have ALWAYS hated muslims |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| kiwi25 |
| 05/25/01 at 17:54:37 |
| salaam, i work at a medical records department with an hmo group and i wear hijab, alhumdulilah i have it easy no one bothers me or anything, plus the majority of the people i work with are from around the world and only a few are americans, so anon, dont let your hijab keep you away from any job, if they say something its discrimination and theres stuff u can do about that so inshallah things will work out easy for you sister, wasalaam nouha:) |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| traveller |
| 06/03/01 at 11:50:52 |
| AsalamuAlaikum Sister Please don't be put off at interviews - just keep trying! There are plenty of sisters out there with good jobs. You are a Muslim and intelligent! Don't make them let you think otherwise! When I was at Uni I started wearing hijaab. Lots of people said that I would not be able to get the jobs I wanted in hijaab. You've got to fulfil your fard first though and hijaab is obligatory. I'm an accountant and the only Muslim in hijaab at work. Yes, you will get strange looks from some people and interviews do feel weird sometimes but you've got to stay strong. Alhamdulilah, I haven't had problems finding employment. At the interview you need to prove that you will be a good employee. A decent interviewer will look beyond your hijab and realise that there is a brain under there!! I hope Insha'Allah you get the job you want. Wasalaam |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Rashid |
| 05/26/01 at 00:36:40 |
| [slm] With props to cattle mafia godmother Sr Laboogie I present the following [url=http://www.newstimes.com/archive97/jan1097/nah.htm]article[/url], which was published around the time CAIR released their guide to employers about Muslims in the workplace. [wlm] |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| jannah |
| 05/26/01 at 01:12:16 |
| [wlm] wow br rashid you're famous! ;) btw you call us cattle godmothers again and u know where u'll end up??? capice!? as for anon's original questions: [quote] I know a lot of educated sisters but I don't know a lot of working sisters in good jobs. Many tend to stay in education for a very long time and totally avoid the world of work! Some move on and become researchers or professors in universites BUT I cant stay on at university another year or I'll totally crack up!!! [/quote] you can see that many sisters have posted telling you that it is possible to find a good job wearing hijab...and i can tell you from interviewing in the technology field that the above sisters are right.. they honestly don't care as long as you don't care. the only thing is be careful about where you decide to accept a position, the corporate world is pretty vicious.. it wears at your iman until you have very little left.. you need to constantly strive to regain even a little of what you had before. so choose a place where you will be comfortable with your islam, where they are open-minded and where the job does not compromise your islam in any way. so i'm not really sure what you mean by "good jobs" because if you mean executive positions in the corporate world i can tell you it is probably good that there are few sisters up there, because that is an extremely difficult path to take. to get there you will compromise alot. anyone who says you won't has never worked in any type of corporate environment. it is scary for me to see people of my own age who were extremely active when they were younger now go into the corporate workplace and slowly dissappear from the Islamic scene. everyone has to work to make money i guess, but take this advice from me now.. choose a place/major/field of study that will be the least detrimental to you being a good Muslim. Today they do seem as you said...teachers, doctors, professors. |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Anonymous |
| 05/26/01 at 01:32:24 |
| I think maybe it's less of an issue in the UK than it is in the usa or france USA because their not used to it and France because the Ferengi have ALWAYS hated muslims ------------------------------------- Oh no way. I am from UK and its not less of an issue. The higest paying job you can find are usually in the financial sector in the city and there is NO ONE with a hijab there! When I was on work experience I felt like such an outcast and so lonely because there was no-one to talk to. The main topic in the office are going to the pub, getting drunk, girlfriends and boyfriends etc. I thought America was better. But I have to agree about France. They are soo racisit towards muslims. |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| bhaloo |
| 05/26/01 at 02:09:23 |
| slm Anonymous sounds like chachi with all the Ferengi talk. ;) |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Anonymous |
| 05/26/01 at 23:49:37 |
| Dear Bhaloo Is it possible you could re-iterate this in English? I didn't understand what your were saying. Did anyone else understand? Are we using a secret language on this page that only members have been informed about or has Bhaloo been out in the sun too long? |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| bhaloo |
| 05/27/01 at 00:13:48 |
| slm I don't think you read anonymous's post before mine, which said: [quote] USA because their not used to it and France because the Ferengi have ALWAYS hated muslims [/quote] Chachi uses the word Ferengi and France together on the board. |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Anonymous |
| 05/28/01 at 21:07:42 |
| Walaikum wasalam Ok. I think. I thought Chachi was the cousin of fonzi in 'happy days' and ferengi was some type of Italian 'car'. Sorry. I think you guys are using Amercian slang and I'm not quite hip with it (yet) :) |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| *sofia* |
| 05/31/01 at 16:48:39 |
| Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh I don't know about "high-powered" but I've been in the work force for the past 2+ years in a corporate environment. It's been interesting, to say the least, being the only hijaabi at my company, but alhamdulillah, everyone has been pretty open-minded so far. As far as clothing is concerned, I tend to wear 1 piece dresses or jilbaabs at work. I haven't yet had any problems, alhamdulillah, even with all my layering! There's even a funny "dress code" here that states how much of your feet can be exposed! Alhamdulillah, I don't have to worry about that one, but beware of any other unusual "dress codes"; some state the length your skirt/dress should be... In regards to interviewing, don't worry, sister, insha'Allah Allah will take of your needs. Not that we should accept intolerance as the "norm", but you also don't want to end up (day in, day out) in a work atmosphere that doesn't accept your religious practices, so be upfront, be it re: clothing or prayer or food, etc. Based on your discretion and best judgement, sometimes the interview itself is a good time to discuss your concerns (good dawah op!), like your need to pray at certain times of the day, where to pray, clothing, shaking hands with non-mahrem men, etc. I pray you get a female interviewee, insha'Allah! Although it's difficult at first, people actually appreciate knowing that you're not shaking their hands because they have the cooties, but out of modesty/religious reasons. Trust me, it's not worth getting a job at the expense of your beliefs. Allah is the best of Providers, I hope you find a satisfying job soon! [side note: I know a woman working at a nearby company who wears full hijaab/jilbaab PLUS niqaab. And the most interesting thing about it: she's an african american who converted into Judaism! So if she can do it...may Allah make it easy for you!] ["if she can do it", meaning, dress modestly even tho she has never been Muslim. Not convert into Judaism, Lord have mercy...] |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Malika |
| 05/30/01 at 13:11:32 |
| slm [quote] The Kafir employers should not be looking down at you, rather you should be looking down at them! Wasalaam [/quote] I don't think anyone should look down upon anybody. There was an old thread on this subject and a brother mentioned that he went to his interview and had to excuse himself to make salat. They hired him because his dedication was evident. I work in Real Estate and there is really no problem. I was here when I converted and what I get is alot of questions. Inshallah everything will work out. I plan to relocate somethime aournd the end of this year Inshallah and the thought of interviewing makes me nervous also but I know everything will be alright. Alhamdulliah! OK here is my 2 cents. |
| Re: Highflying power dressing sister!! |
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| Spring |
| 05/30/01 at 19:59:19 |
| [slm] Masha Allah, you sisters are all so inspiring and beautiful. Going off in your areas of work, showing the western world that being muslim women doesn't mean that we are not intelligent individuals, and that we have to walk in the shadow of men. You are doing so much for the cause of da'wah. Showing that Islam, in fact it frees us to use all our abilities within certain bounds which help us to flourish as individuals. |
| I can relate |
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| Ahlam |
| 05/31/01 at 17:56:52 |
| Sister, I know what you are feeling. I myself do not even know any muslims personally and I am the only one where I live. I will be graduating from school in October. I will be a computer aided drafter and designer. I am so scared that I will not be able to get a job because of my wearing hijab, which I will start wearing to school in a week. I know that it is illegal for a company to be prejudiced to a religion or race, but I also know that people are. But I have faith in Allah that I will be taken care of. I will not give up and neither should you!!!!! My advice is to act like you are no different from the potential employer sitting in front of you at an interview. Be very sure of yourself and let them know that you can do just as good a job as anyone else, or maybe even better. I hope that you get a very good job and that you will be shown no prejudice in your search. Inshallah everything will turn out great!!! Wishing you the best Wasalam, Aimee |
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